Ireland declares climate emergency

The 16 year old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has described it as great news that Ireland has become the second country in the world to declare a climate emergency.

The decision was made in the Dáil last night after a change by Fianna Fáil to the Oireachtas report on Climate Action. There was six TDs in the Dáil at the time of the vote.

Earlier this month, the UK became the first country to declare a climate emergency.

In the tweet last night, Greta Thunberg welcomed the news: “Great news from Ireland!! Who is next? And remember: #ClimateEmergency means leaving fossil fuels in the ground. #ClimateBreakdown #EcologicalBreakdown.”

Her tweet has been retweeted more than 3,000 times.

Chairwoman of the Climate Action Committee, Fine Gael's Hildegarde Naughton said last night that it was good news. She said: “We now have cross party support in declaring a climate and biodiversity emergency. Action now needed.”

Local election candidate for the Green Party in the Cork City South East ward, Lorna Bogue said: “Let's keep the pressure up and ensure that this means action and not words!”

The vote comes after a massive protest in Cork city in March where secondary school students called on the Government to declare a climate emergency.